BlackCrest is a boutique legal-as-a-service provider operating within the African market. We specialize in providing both bespoke and turn-key solutions to startups and technology companies across all stages of their life cycle: from ideation to company formation and structuring, to scaling. We offer:
Rather than a law firm, we consider ourselves insiders in the technology ecosystem. What we offer is not legal support – we provide the intangible business assets of legal and commercial intelligence.
We are a startup-focused law firm. We specialize in investment advisory and investment due diligence. We advise founders raising $1 million and above and support VCs looking to invest in Africa.
Osita James is a technology entrepreneur and a partner at BlackCrest. The start-up advisory law firm (BlackCrest) has successfully advised start-ups across Africa in investment deals worth over $20 million. He holds an MSc in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship from the Nottingham Business School and a Diploma in Technology and Innovation from the Nigerian University of Technology and Management. He is also the founder of The Profitable Lawyer, a coaching and training company that supports lawyers and law firms in Africa with operations, business development and client relations training to create a profitable practice. Osita teaches startup law at Lavelle Academy and has trained three cohorts of lawyers with The Profitable Lawyer's training curriculum he developed.
Sopuruchi is an exceptional first-class lawyer with experience working with startups and corporates. She studied law at the University of Nigeria and worked with top corporate law firms Stren & Blan and TLP Advisory before joining BlackCrest. Sopuru brings her experience in product management and startup advisory to her approach to working with startups and SMEs at BlackCrest.
Doris is an exceptional corporate lawyer with experience working with FMDQ and Pocket Lawyers. She studied law at UNN and earned her bachelor of law before joining BlackCrest. Doris combines her experience in corporate law and corporate governance in her approach to supporting startups and SMEs at BlackCrest.
Business
In 2024, BlackCrest successfully advised Winich Farms on their $3 million seed round supported by VCs such as Sahel Funds, Plug and Play Ventures and Founders Factory.
